JACK THE RIPPER TOUR
Jan 10th, 2010, 07:01 PM
#2
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Jan 10th, 2010, 10:14 PM
#8
IT'S ALL HERE...... oh sorry 
This has been discussed several times, and typing jack the ripper in the search the forums box brings up many threads. The most recent and comprehensive is probably this one:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...king-tours.cfm
This has been discussed several times, and typing jack the ripper in the search the forums box brings up many threads. The most recent and comprehensive is probably this one:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...king-tours.cfm
Jan 10th, 2010, 10:42 PM
#9
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We went on one in 1996 and it was fantastic. We had two boys 12 and 14 with us and they loved it. We bought the book as well. We thought it was one of the best things we did on our London holiday. Next time in England we would do more.
Jan 11th, 2010, 01:51 AM
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Seriously - avoid the JtR walks - do any of the others. There's ones for all tastes.
The JtR walk is the biggest tourist trap in London (not to mention ethically very iffy).
CW - used to be a JtR guide. Knows this walk is critic proof.
The JtR walk is the biggest tourist trap in London (not to mention ethically very iffy).
CW - used to be a JtR guide. Knows this walk is critic proof.
Jan 11th, 2010, 03:33 AM
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I know that many consider the Jack the Ripper tour to be a tourist trap and quite tacky. I went on the tour about 20 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did the one with Donald Rumbelow as the guide. The evening was damp and slightly foggy making the atmosphere perfect.
Jan 11th, 2010, 05:26 AM
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Cholmondley_Warner on Jan 11, 10 at 05:51 AM
CW - used to be a JtR guide. Knows this walk is critic proof.
Well, I'm going to give you a criticism. I'm sorry we wasted our time doing the Jack the Ripper tour. It was so crowded that we could only hope to catch an occasional phrase from the tour guide. We easily had 50-60 people in our group. We didn't even finish the tour. There was really no point since we couldn't hear anything. And yes, it was a London Walks tour although not with Donald Rumbelow.
CW - used to be a JtR guide. Knows this walk is critic proof.
Well, I'm going to give you a criticism. I'm sorry we wasted our time doing the Jack the Ripper tour. It was so crowded that we could only hope to catch an occasional phrase from the tour guide. We easily had 50-60 people in our group. We didn't even finish the tour. There was really no point since we couldn't hear anything. And yes, it was a London Walks tour although not with Donald Rumbelow.
Jan 11th, 2010, 07:25 AM
#13
RebeccaHWA and takemealong: You both took the tour years ago. The way things are now is TOTALLY different. "The Donald" has turned the tour into a cottage industry. It is not unusual for 100, 150 or more people to be along - it is a mess. The local hate HATE the tours and everyone on them. Noisy, rude and disruptive. Yes, people actually live in those neighborhoods. Plus not a single location still exists. You learn things like "over where that car park is yada yada yada" - or "That used to be the location of the xyz".
What you may have experienced 15, 20 years ago has no bearing on what it is today . . . .
What you may have experienced 15, 20 years ago has no bearing on what it is today . . . .
Jan 11th, 2010, 09:21 AM
#14
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I was in London last Mayand did multiple London Walks. I had heard the same above comments on JtR, so it was not on my list. First hint, if you are going to be doing several, buy their discount card. Cost 2£ and lowers cost of subsequent tours by 2£ each.
I did the St Paul's, British Museum, Old Hamstead, Hamstead Pub Tour, Highgate, Old Palaces and Quarters, and another tour in the Central area.
I liked them all, Highgate was a bit thin on content but still interesting. Note that is does not terminate near a tube station ( I got lost, a bit!). The Old Palaces is times such that you see the end of the Changing of the Guards. Hampstead, liked that area a lot.
I did the St Paul's, British Museum, Old Hamstead, Hamstead Pub Tour, Highgate, Old Palaces and Quarters, and another tour in the Central area.
I liked them all, Highgate was a bit thin on content but still interesting. Note that is does not terminate near a tube station ( I got lost, a bit!). The Old Palaces is times such that you see the end of the Changing of the Guards. Hampstead, liked that area a lot.
Jan 11th, 2010, 09:28 AM
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Have not been myself but last year met a family in my hotel and they were appalled. (Apparently they knew little in advance.) They did it with kids 8 and 10 and were mortified by their questions about prostitution and the mores of 19th century London. they felt the only benefit was the huge number of people made it hard for the kids to hear much - and left shortly after the start of the tour.
Jan 11th, 2010, 11:02 AM
#19
One thing to be aware of - we have been told that as the Jack the Ripper walking tours are so popular, sometimes someone turns up, pretends to be the guide and takes lots of money then disappears when the real guide turns up. Be sure of who you are giving money to.
London Walks www.walks.com are terrific, we've done quite a few and all have been interesting. The one that includes a boat down the Thames and Greenwich was especially good.
Kay
London Walks www.walks.com are terrific, we've done quite a few and all have been interesting. The one that includes a boat down the Thames and Greenwich was especially good.
Kay
Jan 12th, 2010, 02:43 AM
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I was wondering what they thought a tour about a man who murdered prostitutes would be about.....>>>>
You'd be amazed.
I would guess that at least 30% of any tour think that JtR is fictional. (They often think that Holmes is real too).
They also expect it to be some kind of Dickens type romp. Ala The Basil Rathbone Holmes meets My Fair Lady.
They certainly don't expect the very vivid descriptions of what he did (which is horrid indeed).
To give you an idea (not for the squeamish - and expect this to be explained in close detail (that's the flesh from her thigh on the side table for instance):
http://casebook.org/victims/mary_jane_kelly.html
You'd be amazed.
I would guess that at least 30% of any tour think that JtR is fictional. (They often think that Holmes is real too).
They also expect it to be some kind of Dickens type romp. Ala The Basil Rathbone Holmes meets My Fair Lady.
They certainly don't expect the very vivid descriptions of what he did (which is horrid indeed).
To give you an idea (not for the squeamish - and expect this to be explained in close detail (that's the flesh from her thigh on the side table for instance):
http://casebook.org/victims/mary_jane_kelly.html
